The ‘S’ in Saunders are for Superman

DC Comics made its debut on its new “Superman” in the country’s rooms on July 11. Byu fans don’t have to wait so long. The steel man of the cougars is already there.

When Richie Saunders struck a pair of free throws with 3.2 seconds remaining on Saturday evening to upset n ° 19 from Arizona to Tucson, the 6 -foot junior 5 inches, 200 pounds from Riverton solidified his place at Cougar Lore Like a dignified and willing to wear the cape and save the day.

In the real form of Hollywood, the heroism of Saunders came on the same floor where the former superman of Byu – Jimmer Fredette – established the record of the McKale Center for most points in a match when he left 49 on the Wildcats in 2009.

Saunders was only seven years old at the time. At the time, he was a dreamer. Saturday, and throughout the second season of Byu in the Big 12, he was an actor.

To never be confused with a bird or a plane, Saunders found different ways to fly. His tenacity, which includes a misleading speed and dissatisfaction, makes him a threat at any time to score at the edge and his high flow jump shot is almost impossible to block.

In the revenge match in Arizona, Saunders scored 23 points by making eight of the 10 shots, including four of the five 3 points and four of the five free throws – with its last two decisive. Saturday was not the first time that he saved the day where the way will probably not be the last.

What Saunders did this season started with a choice he made last summer. After reaching the NCAA tournament, he watched his head coach come out and take some big pieces with him (Jaxson Robinson and the precious recruit Collin Chandler).

Like the Piper foot, Mark Pope has played his air so that Saundators can also follow. Richie and his wife Sierra even flew to Kentucky to take a look. After the visit, they determined that the famous Bluegrass, there was no more green for him than what Byu had here.

While working to keep several players from last year’s list, including Saunders, the new coach Kevin Young signed Egor Demin, Kanon Catchings, Keba Kieta, Elijah Crawford and Brody Kozlowski. The new additions have sent a message from Young to the Returners – “I’m glad you are back, but if you want to play, you have to improve.”

Saunders went and improved and the transformation was important. For a player excluded from all pre-season distinctions, he has become a force in the Big 12 competition. Saunders classifies n ° 3 in score (18), n ° 2 as a percentage of goals on the ground (0.567) and N ° 1 as a percentage of three points (0.457). On Monday, the Big 12 appointed Saunders the player of the week Big 12 for his exploits against the Jayhawks and the Wildcats.

The figures become more impressive compared to the productivity of Saunders in the conference games last year. His score has almost doubled compared to 9.5, his percentage of field goals increased by almost five points, his percentage of 3 points increased by almost 10 points, and his percentage of free throws improved 8.5 points.

It is almost as if he came from another planet.

Just as camouflaged as Clark Kent, Saunders walks on the campus resembling an everyday guy and a little maintenance. He humbly responds to a compliment and is graceful and respectful. His wife and family are his fortress of loneliness, but each time the ball overturns, the CAP comes out and he plays like a superhero.

That Saunders returns next year to play with the recruit n ° 1 to the world AJ Dybansta, Demin (perhaps), Keta and other characters sharing the same ideas is a decision for another day. Right now, it’s his time to shine, and the big dance is where he wants to go, and after Saturday, the cougars seem to be going this way.

Saunders is not perfect and Kryptonite presents itself and causes problems from time to time, but it is all with regard to determination, effort and leadership. Unlike the fictitious icon, which has an “S” on his chest, Saunders keeps this letter at the back of his jersey. Instead, it is “byu” at the front and with him in the lead, the cougars are at the front and in the center of the Big 12.

July 11 is in the long term to see Hollywood “Superman”. Fortunately for Byu, they can watch their steel man grow back on Wednesday when Saunders and the cougars (19-8, 10-6) will play at Arizona State (7 p.m., ESPN +).

Dave McCann is a sports editor and columnist for the Deseret News and is a Play-By-Play advertiser and show host for Byutv / ESPN +. He co-anima “y’s guys” at ysguys.com And is the author of the children’s book “C is for cougar”, available at Deseretbook.com.